Rocking toy



Oct 22, 194s R SCHNEIDER 2,409,563

ROCKING TOY 7 Filed Sept. 2, 1944 2 Sh'et'S-Sheet l Inventor Oct. 22, 1946. R sgHNElDER 2,409,803

ROCKING TOY 4 Filed Sept. 2,.1944 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 2-2, 1946 RGCKJNG TOY Rudolph G. Schneider, Houston, Tex, assignor to American Furniture & Toy Company, Houston,

Tex.

Applica'tion'september 2, 1944, Serial No. 552,515

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to novel improvements characterizing what is believed to be an ingenious and new type rocking toy, such as is especially, but not necessarily, adapted for indoor use by small children ranging from two to four years in age.

More particularly, I have evolved and produced a simple and practicable indoor rocking vehicle through the use of which a child can ride back and forth in a room on the same path, this with reliability and safety, the same having combined advantages of a rocking hobby-horse and a tricycle-type kiddie car.

Another object of the invention has to do with the provision of a multiple-wheeled toy vehicle in which the occupant rocks to and fro instead of in a continuous forward motion.

In carryingout the principles of the invention, I have perfected a toy in the form of an innovation which is simple and economical in construction, is made wholly of wood, is sturdy and particularly designed for. longevity, the construction and arrangement being such as to minimize wobbling.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a frame rockably mounted on a rear wheel-supported axle, said frame being provided at its forward end with a perpendicular post, this extending at right angles to the frame proper and having rockable connection to a pair of larger front wheels, this through the medium of an eccentric axle connection.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like elements and parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wooden toy constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention showing the parts in the positions assumed when they are at rest.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation, that is, a view observing Figure l in a direction from left to right.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view of the front wheel and axle assembly, this being on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1, showing the relationship of parts accomplished to provide the rise and fall or rocking motion.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be seen that the frame 6 comprises a pair of duplicate members having horizontal converging frontal portions 1 and rearwardly and downwardly diverging and gradually curved rear leg portions 8. The extreme converging ends of the portions l are secured to a perpendicular post Q, as exposed in Figure 5. A suitable seat board IE3 is secured atop the horizontal upper edge portions of the members I. The frame structure may also be said to include 'an integral rigidly mounted horses head II with outstanding hand-grips II la.

The rear Wheel assembly comprises a wooden axle l2 and a pair of duplicate wheels l3 of a predetermined diameter. These wheels, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are provided with concentric rigidly secured hub-collars I l. The wheels and hub-collars are firmly fitted on the axle, that is, have driving friction fit on said axle and therefore rotate with the axle, as is obvious. The anchored lower ends of the diverging legs 3 have loose rocking connections with the axle at points slightly inward of the huboollars. Thus, the rear wheel assembly supports the rear end portion of the frame structure and the frame structure rocks, as a unit, on the axle.

The front wheel assembly, this the propulsion phase of the structure, is illustrated to advantage in Figure 3. Considering this figure in conjunction with the other figures, it will be seen that the two front wheels are considerably larger in diameter than the rear wheels and are denoted and distinguished by the reference numerals l5. They are juxtaposed and in close spaced parallelism .and are rigidly or frictionally mounted on the end of a horizontal stub front axle l6. Here again, I provide hub-collars ll, these being nailed and glued to the inner faces of the Wheels and also having snug friction fit on the axle to rotate therewith. Thus, the two wheels, axle and hubcollars all operate in unison. The lower end of the post or standard 9 has loose rocking connection, as at 18, with the intermediate portion of the axle, this fitting nicely between the adjacent surfaces of the hub-collars l'l. The pedals are in the form of dowel pins l9 and these are disposed opposite one another, that is, the pedals on opposite sides are in alignment with each other. They, too, are eccentric in respect to the central axial points of the wheels l5. Likewise, the wheels have eccentric connection to the axle assembly, as brought out in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

bend or sway sidewise.

The following are believed to be advantages characterizing the invention:

It operates with ease, this due to the hardwood dowels bearing on soft wood and because both feet push the pedals in the same direction at one time. Generally speaking the device is well balanced and devoid of objectionable wobbling wheels.

It is evident that by bringing the front bearing points closer to the center points of the coacting Wheels, the rocking motion is decreased and the force required to rock the vehicle is proportionately decreased.

The sturdy wheel and bearing construction and operation is obtained by securing the wood dowel axles tight to all wheels, with additional 3-inch and'2 /2-inch diameter wood reinforcing plates fastened to all wheels and allowing the axles to turn loosely in the frame members of the vehicle, turning with the wheels. This keeps both front wheels in alignment with each other at all times, and also keeps the wheels in a rigid and straight upright position at all times. There are no hearing points to wear large and allow the wheels to They are glued to the axle in addition to nailing. This is the secret of the more successful operation and lasting quality of this vehicle.

This rocking vehicle is designed principally for two-year to four-year old children.

This is an indoor rocking vehicle, and by rocking over the high point of the wheel swing, a

"child can ride back and forth in a room on the types, as it allows full body swing and motion and push on both wheels at the same time forward 'or backward, in rhythm with the rocking motion of the vehicle. Pedals mounted on opposite ends of the front wheels, as in a regular tricycle, do

not allow the body to swing to and fro with the motion of the vehicle because one footor the other is always pushing against the movement of the body swinging with the rocking vehicle,

therefore counteracting the rocking movement which is assisted to a large degree by a child swinging the upper part of his body to and fro in a natural manner.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a .clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

An all wood wheeled toy of a non-steerable rocking type adapted to move back and forth in a straight path comprising a front standard having rigid handle means connected with its upper end portion, a pair of complemental, opposed frame members having frontal horizontal portions secured at their outer ends to the upper end portion of said standard and having rear,

downturned and diverging opposite end portions,

a seat board secured to the upper edges of the horizontal portions of said frame members, a front wheel assembly comprising a relatively short, horizontal axle extending through and beyond a bearing formed in the lower end of said standard, relatively large wheels in parallelism on opposite sides of said standard, the outer ends of said axle being eccentrically and rigidly connected to said wheels at predetermined points, and relatively small hub collars fixedly secured to the axle-end and inner surfaces of the respective wheels, said hub collars riding in limited movable contact with adjacent opposite faces of said standard, and a rear wheel assembly comprising a longer axle having small wheels secured to its outer ends, said axle having its end portions extending through bearing holes in the terminals of said frame members, and small hub 

